Serving device.



G. A. 'STENIUS.

SERVING DEVIGB.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 29, 1910.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

coLL'MmA PLANOGRAFH 00.. WASHINGTON. Dv c.

c. A. STBNIUS. SERVING DEVIOE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED AUGJQ, 1910'.

1;OO2,331 Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

8 BHEETS-BHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COuWASHlNflTON, I)v c.

G. A. STENIUS.

SERVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. 29, 1910.

1,002,331, Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

3 BHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGIAPH C0,, WASHINGTON D. C.

CHARLES A. STENIUS, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

SERVING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 29, 1910.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

Serial No. 579,533.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLEs A. STENIUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the countyof St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Serving Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for serving meals, and has for its object the provision of means whereby meals may be delivered to a distance, as to private apartments in a hotel, or to destinations without the place where the cooking is done, and served substantially as hot, as when first dished for delivery.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a serving device which permits ready access to be had thereto, so that the contents need not be removed there from, and the meal partaken of without handling of the dishes.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the device may be easily and quickly disassembled, so that parts which would otherwise be inaccessible will be exposed for cleansing purposes, and thus permit the device as a whole to be kept in a perfectly sanitary condition.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings employed for illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:Figure 1 is a sectional plan view taken on a line a"a: of Fig. 2, the revoluble tray portion being broken away to more clearly show parts located beneath the same. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line 3 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the location and interrelation of the various parts. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the posts comprised in the frame-work of the device. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the upper edges of the post, side wall and sliding door. Fig. 6 is a top view of the complete device, with detachable shelves mounted thereon. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view of the device with a shelf attached thereto. Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the shelves.

The frame-work of the device preferably comprises a base which consists of a central portion 1, which has a socket 2 in its upper face of conical formation, the object of which will be presently explained. Extending radially from the central portion are arms 3, which are irregular in formation so as to provide stub legs 4, and recesses 5, in order to provide a clearance for roller bearings 6, which may be mounted upon the arms in any suitable manner. A recess is formed in the arms near the ends thereof, as at 7, and the ends of the arms extend upwardly so that the upper sides thereof will be slightly higher than the remaining por-' tion. A transverse groove 8 is formed in the upper face of the arms near their ends, and a like groove 9 adjoining the upper outer edge of the recesses 7. An annular rim 10, of sheet metal, having an outer turned edge 11, to add rigidity thereto, and a' groove 12, the formation of which provides a head on the lower side of the rim, is disposed upon the base arms with said turned edge and bead engaging the grooves 8 and 9 in the arms. The inner portion of the rim is formed so as to conform in crosssection with the contour of the recesses in the arms, as plainly shown in Fig. 3, and thus provides an annular trough 13, to catch all liquid foods which may be accidentally spilled within the device. Mounted at the end of each arm is a post 14:, which is disposed on top of the rim 10, after the lat ter is in the proper position, and secured in place by bolts 15, passed through the base of the post and through strenghtening plates (not shown) secured to the under side of the rim adjacent the base arms.

The post members 14, comprise an upright portion having a longitudinal groove 16 formed in one of the side edges thereof, the alternate posts having the grooves formed in the opposite edges, so as to receive the opposite ends of the side wall members 17, and with the laterally extending ears 18, serve to detachably hold the said side wall members, which are arc-shaped and preferably of sheet metal, in the proper position. The upper ends of the posts are off-set and provided with rounded grooves 19, 20 and 21, in their sides and top, the object of which will be presently explained. The references 22 and 23 represent arc-shaped sliding doors, each composed of two sections which are arranged to slide in opposite directions, and the lower edges of which engage the annular groove 9 in the rim, which groove serves as a track for the door sections to slide in, and also to prevent lateral displacement thereof. Each of the door sections have their opposite end edges 24 bent outwardly to form stops for contact with the sides of the posts, so as to effect a tight closure between said members at that point, the bent portions being notched, as at 25, so as to pass the ears 18 without interference. One

of the adjoining end edges of the door sections is off-set, so as to lap over the other section, and each section is bent outwardly and upwardly at its upper edge 25, so as to extend over the shoulders 26 of the posts,

In order to complete the upper portion of the side wall structure, and to provide a guideway for the upper edges of the sliding doors, I employ an annular member 27,

which is right-angled in cross section, and

engagement of the beads with the grooves locks the annular member in position, and

being of sheet metal and yielding, the same may be easily sprung into position or de-. t'ached at will. The same also adds rigidityto the whole structure, as the vertical arm prevents inward movement of the upper ends of the posts.

' An annular crown member '30, which is substantially of inverted U-shaped formation in cross-section, and having beads 31 and 32 formed on'its edges, is disposed so as 'to rest upon the upper side of the annular member 27, the outer arm 33 extending downwardly and its beaded edge engaging the grooves 19 in the posts, and its inner arm 3a extending downwardly in spaced relation with the vertical arm of the member 27,'to form a guideway for the upper edges of the sliding doors. The crown member being of sheet metal and slightly yielding, is also easily sprung into position, the bead on the outer arm holding the same against accidental displacement, while at the same time permitting the crown member to be easily and quickly detached. A cover or lid 35, having an annular flange 36, and a knob handle 37, permits ready access to be had to the interior of the device, for placing or removing dishes therefrom. The bottom or tray 38, is in the'form of a circular disk, and has a cone shaped pivot pin 39 on its under side, which pin engages the cone shaped socket 2, formed in the upper side of the base, which pin serves as an axis for the tray, to hold same in the proper po- 'sition and permit it to be revolved. The

.tray rests upon the roller bearings, which support and permit the same to be easily revolved when heavily loaded, andenables the party served to easily help himself Without removing the dishes from the tray, as by sliding open the doors on the side the contents will be in full view, and by revolving the tray any part thereof may be brought directly within reach. The device is provided with a double set of doors, so that either one or two parties may be served at the same time,

I have thus provided a serving device or tray which is completely inclosed, so that the heat and steam arising from the food will be confined and prevent the rapid cooling of the food, whereby meals may be delivered hot at a considerable distance from the kitchen, and held in a warm condition in a cold atmosphere for a considerable period of time.

It will also be observed from the foregoing description, that the device may be easily and quickly disassembled, so as to render all parts accessible for cleansing purposes, and enable the same to be kept in a perfect sanitary condition.

The revoluble tray may be locked against movement in any suitable manner, as by mounting a lock on the under side of the tray and having a bolt arranged to engage apertures arranged in the adjoining rim, the position of the lock being indicated at 40. As the manner of locking the tray may be accomplished in many ways and with various styles of locks, and as no specific form of locking mechanism is claimed herein, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate and describe the same in detail.

In order to increase the capacity of the device, I provide same with detachable brackets 41, having pins 42 at their opposite ends adapted to engage socket members 43 secured to the posts, bracket arms 44: carried by the brackets extending downwardly at an angle and terminating in a head 45 having a socket therein, for engagement with the fixed pins 46. The brackets may thus be easily removed when not required, and as they are disposed so as to adjoin the side wall members, they do not interfere with or block the side door' openings.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what is claimed is i 1. In a portable serving device, the combination with the base, of a rim member mounted thereon comprising a trough portion, a tray mounted on the base having its edge extending over said trough and spaced from the wall thereof, and a hood for the tray.

2. In a portable serving device, the combination with a base comprising radially extending arms, of an annular rim member mounted upon the outer ends of said arms and having a trough formed around its inner edge, a circular tray mounted for rotation upon the base and having its edge extending over said trough, and a hood for the tray.

3. In a portable serving device, the combination with the base, of a tray mounted thereon, a hood comprising a plurality of posts, segmental side-wall members detachably engaging said posts, sliding side-door sections, annular detachable frame members engaging grooves in the upper ends of said posts and having downwardly extending relatively spaced flanges to form a guideway for said door sections, and a removable lid for the hood.

4. In a portable serving device, the combination with the tray, of a hood comprising a plurality of posts, sectional side-wall mem bers detachably engaging said posts, sliding side-door sections, frame members adapted to be sprung into and detachably held in engagement with the upper ends of said posts and relatively spaced at their inner edges to form a guideway for the side-door sections.

5. In a serving device, the combination with the base, of an annular rim member mounted thereon and embodying a grooved guideway and trough, a tray mounted on the base and extending over said trough portion, a hood comprising a plurality of posts, means on the posts for detachably holding segmental side wall members, detachable frame members connecting the upper ends of the posts and spaced on one side to form a guideway, sliding side door sections arranged to slide in said guideways, and a lid for the hood.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. STENIUS.

Witnesses:

L. M. HAMMERSOHMID, FLOYD A. DEAHL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

